Reading Response:
 


   That oddly comforting feeling to know that things could be worse is so common. Everyone feels it. Its good to have an open mind but, if it gets in the way of you seeing life for real you have to wake up and take care of it, the way lily did in The Secret Life of Bees.

    Lily Owens lives in South Carolina during 1964. She is a white 14 year old but she still lives in a broken home. The tension of power between her and her father causes them to clash and Lily is always the one getting hurt. Lily lives with this everyday until she cannot take it anymore, and she runs away. It changes her life. She forms strong bonds with people she would never have expected. Three strong black woman who teach her that black people are just as great as whites and are mistreated for no reason. Sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone to discover new great things. Lily has been able to escape her fathers nightmare and has entered paradise with unexpected friends.

   As you may know Lily's father T.Ray seems to not use his parental power wisely. In there house hold everything that goes wrong becomes Lily's fault and T.Ray refuses to listen to reason. Back then black people had it tough but lily had a better experience living with them than with a white man. I love how the book makes her strong enough to know whats best for herself and take initiative.
This book shows hope that if you find yourself in an unsafe environment, do something about it and be strong.

    Sometimes when you "take a leap" or "go for it" the way lily did, you can find yourself in an amazing new place even if it is hard to get there. Lily ran away from an abusive broken man and ended up in the best place possible. Hopefully normal conditions are at hand but you should take her bravery into consideration and let her be a lesson.